Homily for four the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, delivered for the community of St John the Baptist Primary Catholic School, Gladstone, Qld.

"Islands, listen to me, pay attention, remotest peoples. The Lord called me before I was born, from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name. He made my mouth a sharp sword,
and hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow, and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ‘You are my servant (Israel) in whom I shall be glorified...'" (cf. Is 49).

"For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation." (cf. Ps 139).

"To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John..." (cf. Acts 13).

"The time came for Elizabeth to have her child... and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy. Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said ‘he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name’, and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished... All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ they wondered." (cf. Lk 1).

Artwork: an icon of Saint John the Baptist surrounded by saints and angels and fellow Christians on the way, generated using the Wonder App.